pennington



J. K. PENNINGTON.

VENTILATOR CAP. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1920.

2 $HEETSSHEET I.

Patented June 20, 1922.

JOHN E. PENNINGTON, OF LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA.

VENTILATOR CAP.

To all ivlmm it may concern:

lie it known that l. Torin K. PENNING TON, a citizen of the Jnited States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Ari-fgeles, State of California, have 1nvented' new and useful Improvements in Ventilator Caps, of which the following is .aspecifica.

tion.

This invention has to do with a ventilator cap, that is, a cap for ventilatorflues or the like, and an object of the invention is character set forth in my co-pending application entitled Ventilation system filed May 29, 1920, Serial No. 385,213, although it will be understood that it is in no way connected, or limited, to any one such spe cific type or form of ventilation system, and in fact, is not necessarily limited to use in connection with a system or apparatus which is specifically a ventilation system.-

For purpose of illustration and in order to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention,

I am herein setting it forth in connection with or as applied to, a ventilation system.

It being understood of course that when I refer to a ventilation system that I do not necessarily limit or restrict myself to what is strictly or specifically known as a ventilation system.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a single unitary cap structure or device of the general. character above set forth which will not only operate to supply air to a ventilation system but will also operate to draw air from a ventilation system; and further, to provide a cap for simultaneously performing such operations. The provision of a compact unitary cap of this character greatly reducesthe number of caps required for a ventilation system and also materially reduces the cost of installing a ventilation system. The simultaneous supplying of air to and drawing of air from a ventilation system greatly increases the effectiveness of the system and is therefore of particular commercial importance.

A noteworthy feature of the present cap is the simple, sightly, compact, and weather Specification ofLetters Patent. I Pat e td J 2 flq pgr Application filed June 16, 1920.

Serial No. 389,396.

proof construction. The simplicity and compactness of the device makes it si 'htly, and its arrangement and formation of parts makes it rain and snow proof. l Var ous other objects and features of the invention, not herein specifically set forth or referred to, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cap provided by the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cap being a view taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cap showing it in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines to illustrate the manner in which it swings or positions itself to face directly into the wind; Fig. 4 is a more or less, diagrainmatic view of the cap in connection with a typical ventilation system such as it may be advantageously arranged in connection with; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailedsectional view of the cap taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 7- 7 on Fig. 5.

Throughout the drawings numeral 10 designates the cap which is rotatably mounted on, or over, the upper ends of the intalie fine 11 and exhaust flue 12 of the ventilation system 18. The ventilation system 13, which l SL111 herein setting forth merely for a purpose of illustration, comprises ducts letconnected with the intake i'lHC 11 and opening into the upper portions of the rooms A and 'lland ducts 15 connecting with the exhaust flue 12 and opening into the lower portions ofthe rooms A and B, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. At the point where the cap 10 is over the upper ends of the flues 11 and 12 they are cylindrical in crosssectional configuration and are an ranged concentrically one within the other, the intake flue 11 being within the exhaust flue 12. For simplicity and compactness of construction it is preferred that, at least, the upper end portions of the lines 11 and 12, where the cap 10 is mounted, be formed of sheet metal, as shown in the drawings.

The cap 10 comprises, generally, a horizontally disposed cylindrical body 20, a vertically disposed cylindrical flue 21, and suitably arranged flues and ducts arranged within said body 20 and flue 2i. The body 20 is open ended and, in fact, has flared or fun nel shaped portions 22 at its ends. The up per end of the cylindrical fine 21 joins, and forms a tight joint with, the body 20 while its lower end extends downwardly over the upper end of the exhaust line 12, in the manner shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The body 20 and cylindrical flue 21 are formed so that the flue opens into the body, thereby causing the upper open end of the exhaust fine 12 to be in direct communication with the interior of the body 20. The communication between the upper end of exhaust flue 12 and interior of body 20, however, is not totally unrestricted as there is a flue 24 extending from the upper end of the cylindrical flue 21 to the rear end portion of the body 20 and opening toward the rear of the cap. The flue 2% is suitably curved and is more or less diverging toward its open rear end, as clearly shown in Figs,

5 and 6 of the drawings. It will be noted in the drawings that the flue 2% is concentric with the body 20 and that its largest or rear portion is not sufliciently large to completely fill the body 20 but is of such size as to form or leave a small restricted portion 25 in the body 20 between the extreme end of the flue 24; and the inside of the body.

At the front or forward portion of the body 20 and within the body 20 is provided a suitably shaped and'arranged flue 26 which is open at its forward end and which communicates with avertical centrally arranged cylindrical duct 27. The duct 27 extends downwardly, from the body 20 through the cylindrical fine 21 and into the upper end of the intake flue 11 of the ventilating systern 13. Although the forward end of the flue 26 is open to allow free passage of air into the flue and through the duct 27, louvers or baffles 28 are arranged at the forward open end of the flue 26 in a manner to admit air into the flue 26 but to prevent the passage of rain or snow into the flue 26. The baflies 28 are transversely disposed members and are arranged in spaced relation but so as :to overlap, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The flue 27 is considerably smaller than the flue 2-1 and extends upwardly through a portion of the fine 24 and connects into the flue 26 above the center of the body 20. In the preferred form of construction the flue 2? extends well upwardly into the body 20 and the flue 26 is formed with a curved bottom wall 30 which extends upwardly from the front open portion. of the flue 26 to the duct 27, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. In practice, the curvature of the bottom wall 30 is concentric with the pivotal mounting 31 of damper 32 so that the damper may be positioned, as'indieatedin dotted lines in Fig. 5, in a manner to completely close the flue 26 and thereby prevent passage of air through. it. The damper is connected to a control chain 33 so that it may be easily and conveniently operated, although in practice it is preferred that it be kept at all times in its up or open position. The provision of the damper in connection with flue 26 is primarily to provide means for positively closing the intake passage way of the cap so as to positively prevent rain, or the like, from beating into the cap between or past the handles 28. It will be noted in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, that the lowermost baflle 28 is considerably larger than the other baffles 28 and that it extends upwardly and inwardly in the fine 26 considerably farther than do the baflies 28. Also, the battle 28 is spaced at its lowermost edge from the bottom of the body 26 thereby allowing water to escape from the flue 26, as indicated by the arrow V in Fig. 5. This construction positively prevents accun'n'ilation of water or moisture in the bottom of the body 2() or flue 26 and thereby prevents the cap from rusting out and prevents accumulation of water that might cause water to work its way into or downwardly through the flues of the ventilating system.

Having described the general arrangement and construction of the flue cap and its manner of arrangement in connection with the ventilator lines, I will proceed to describe a form of pivotal mounting that may be provided for the cap in order that it may rotate about a vertical axis and thereby be positioned to face into the wind. A hollow vertical stationary pivot post 40 is arranged to extend upwardly from the upper portion of the ventilator flues through the duct- 2? and into the body 20 of the cap. This pivot post 40 is arranged concentrically relative to the ventilator fines and the duct 27 and is carried by a bracket 41 supported within the intake flue ill just below the lower end of the duct 27 b a plurality of radially disposed spacers 42 which extend through the lines 11. and i2 and which are securely held in place by clamping nuts 4:3 screwthreaded on them and arranged at the insides and outsides of the tines 11 and 12 in the manner clearly shown in the drawings. It is preferred, although not necessary, that the spacers d2 connect to the bracket 41 by screw-threading into it, and that the pivot post 4 0 be connected to the bracket 41 by screw-threading into it. This particular form of construction is desirable in that it is simple, inexpensive and compact.

The weight of the cap 10 is carried at the upper end of the pivot post 410 by a suit able ball thrust bearing 45 and the cap 10 is kept or held concentric with the pivot post and the ventilator flues 11 and 12 by the ball thrust bearing 45, by a bearing a6, and by the cooperation oi? rings and 48 mounted on the flue 21 and the upper end of exhaust flue 12 respectively. The ball thrust bearing 45 comprises a ring like member which is adjustably carried on the pivot post 40 near its upper end, and a ring like member 51. mounted or carried by the flue struc ture within the body 20.

The ring meu'ihers Til. and 50 are se 'niratei l. by hardened steel balls 532 and. the member 51 is-iiormed with an annular projection 5st which engages or extends into a suitable annular groove formed in the member 50, to lreep or hold the two members 50 and 51 concentric. The bearing engages the pivot post 10 about midway between its two ends and is carried or supported by the line 21 in substantially the same manner as the bracket 41 is carried by the ventilating fines. The bearing e6 preferably fits the pivot post comparatively loosely and is supported or carried by radially disposed. braces which. extend through the duct 27 and the flue 21 and are held in place by clamping nuts 56 screw-threaded on them and arranged inside and outside 01? the duct 27 and flue 21, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5. In practice, the brace members 55 not only support or carry a bearing at but also reinforce and hold. the duct 27 centrally within the flue 21. The rings 47 and .118, which coo erate to hold the cap 10 centrally relative to the flues 11 and 12, are permanently or securely carried on the flue 21 and the upper end of flue 12, respectively, and are formed so that a portion of the ring 17 extends or [its over the upper portion of ring 48, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5. The rings a7 and 18 as well as holding the cap 10 in place form a tight joint between the portion 21 and the upper end of the exhaust flue 12 and there by prevent moisture from working its way, or getting, into the flue 2 t or the exhaust line 12. The impmrtance ol the joint between the flue 2'1 and exhaust flue 12 being tight will be best understood l roin the tollowing description 01' the operation or action oi the apparatus.

\Vith the cap 10 mounted in the manner just set forth it will be readily understood how it will freely swing or turn about the pivot post ll) and that, with the various joints, or points 01"" connection, properly adjested it will rotate very easily. The cap is designed to at all times face into the wind in order that it will properly operate and for this reason a longitudinally disposed ver tical [in is arranged to extend upwardly from the body 20, and outwardly and rearwardly extending rudder members 61 are arranged to extend from the rear end or" the in 60. The rudder members {31 may be suitably braced by brace members 62 and by being arranged to extend. outwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the in {30, are particularly eflective in co-operating with the lin 60 to cause the cap to tau-e and stay 'liaced squarely into the wind.

In operation, wind, or currents of air, acting upon the lin ill) and rudder members (31 :lace the cap so that its open 'lront end C tacos squarely into it. 'lheretore, considerable air caught, by the flared or tunnel shaped portion 22 at the front of the cap,.

and is directed into the flue 26, past the battles 28 and 28, and around the flue 26 through the body 20. The air upon enter ing the flue 26 is baii'led or directed upwardly and rearwardly by the battles 28 and passes through the flue 26 and into the duct 27. The air upon entering the duct 27 passes downwardly through it and into the intake flue 11 of the ventilating system. From the flue 11 of the ventilating system the air may be distributed or circulated in any suitable manner as may be required by the particular ventilating system in connection with which the cap is arranged. The 'l act that the lower end oi? the duct 27 extends into the upper end oil the intake flue 11 prevents the escape of air from the oint between the duct and flue without making it necessary to make a closed or tight oint between the duct and flue.

The air which does not pass through flue 26, but which passes through the body 20 around the flue 26, flows rearwardly throu a lti the body 20 and discharges from, or flows out of, the open rear end D of the body 20. The cap is constructed so that a considerable volume of air is admitted into the body 20 thereby causing the velocity oi the air at the restricted portion between the rear end of the flue 2s and the body 20, to be comparatively high. Further, the flared. or funnel shaped portion. 22 of the body 20 at the rear oi? the body also acts to materially increase the velocity oi the air at the restricted portion 25 and at the rear ot the cap as it tends to more or less reduce the pressure of the air at the rear oi. the cap. it will be readily understood how the air passing around the rear end olf flue 2t at a very high velocity draws air trom the 'llue 2d and therefore draws air upwardly through the flue 21 and the exhaust flue 12 of the ventilating system. In practice the air is very effectively drawn upwardly through the line 12, flue 21, and from the flue 2-fiby this action. It will be readily understood how the exhaust flue 12 may be connected with suitable parts of the rooms or how the exhaust flue 12 may be connected with a suitable exhaust system o'l. any venti lating system; for instance, it may be arranged in connection with a system such as is illustrated in Fig. l of: the drawings.

Tn order that the ventilating system may operate at times when there is little or no wind, or circulation of air, an electric fan 70 is arranged in the intake flue 11 just below the bracket 41 so that air may be mechanically drawn into the cap and forced downwardly through the intake flue thereby causing clear fresh air to be drawn through the cap and discharged or distributed into the ventilating system. It will be understood of course that the electric fan 70 need only be operated, when there is practically no wind or circulation of air, and further, that under certain circumstances, or in certain. localities, it may be unnecessary to provide the fan 70.

From the foregoing description it will be understood how the cap 10 is entirely automatic, except for the operation of the damper 82, and that it is extremely simple and therefore requires very little, in fact, practically no care or attention, The damper 32 being an element used only upon rare occasions does not in any way complicate the cap or make it inconvenient to operate. In the particular form of the invention shown. in the drawings the pivot post 40 is hollow and the control or ope rating chain for the damper 32 is arranged over suitable pulleys 80 and 81 so that it will hang downwardly through the pivot post and thereby be out of the way of the operating part and in a position from which it can be conveniently conducted or extended to the point from which it is desired to control the cap.

Having set forth merely a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit or restrict myself to the particular de tails hereinabove set forth but wish to re serve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination a stationary intake fine, a stationary exhaust flue, and a rotatable cap comprising an open ended body, an inlet flue extending from the forward part ofthe body to the intake fine and being open the forward part of the body, and an outlet flue extending from the exhaust fine to the rear part of the body and being open at the rear of the body, the inlet and outlet :flues being arranged in the body to leave a continuous passage through it.

2. In a cap of the character described adapted to be arranged in connection with an intake fine and an exhaust fine, and open ended body, an inlet flue arranged from the front of the body to the intake flue, said inlet flue being open at the front end of the body, and an; outlet flue arranged from the exhaust flue to the rear of the body, said outlet flue being open at the rear ofthe body, the inlet and outlet fines being arranged in the body to leave a continuous passage through it with a restricted portion at the open end of the outlet fine.

3. In a cap of the cl aracter described adapted to be arranged in connection with an intake fine and an exhaust flue arranged one within the other, an open ended body, an inlet line arranged between the front of the body and the intake flue, said inlet ilue being open at the front of the body and being arranged to extend into the intake tine, an outlet flue arranged between the exhaust flue and the rear of the body, the outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and arranged to extend over the exhaust flue, the inlet and outlet flues being ar 'anged in the body so that part of the air entering the front end of the body enters the inlet hue, and so that there is a continuous passage through the body with a restricted portion at the open end of the outlet flue.

4L. In a cap of the character described adapted to be rotatably mounted over the ends of vertically arranged intake and exhaust flues arranged one within the other, a horizontally disposed open ended body, an inlet flue extending from the front of the body to the intake flue, said inlet tine being open at the front of the body and. arranged. to extend into the intake flue, an outlet ilue extending between the exhaust th-ie and the rear of the body, said outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and being arrai iged to extend over the exhaust fine, the inlet and outlet fines being arranged in the body so that air will be caught by the open end of the inlet fine and so that there is a passage through the body with a restricted portion around the openiend of the outlet flue, means for preventing water, or the like, from enter'ing the inlet fine, and means to keep the front end of the body facing into the wind.

A cap of the character described coniprising a horiz iontally disposed open ended body, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the central portion of the body, an outlet liue arranged in the body from the vertical du to its rear end, an inlet flue arranged in the body and vertical line to have an open end at the front of the body and to extend downwardly through the vertical flue, and means for rotatably mounting the cap over two vertically disposed ventilating fines arranged one within the other so that the vertical flue portion con nects with the outer ventilating flue and so that the inlet flue connects with the inner ventilating fine.

6. A cap of the character described coinprisin a horizontally disposed open ended body, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the central portion of the body, an outlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the vertical flue to the rear end of the body, said outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and being shaped to diverge toward its open end to form a restricted portion in the body its rear end, an inlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the front end of the body to and downwardly through the vertical flue, said inlet flue being open at the front of the body and arranged to extend upwardly and inwardly in the body before extending downwardly through the vertical fine.

7. A cap of the character described comprising, a horizontally disposed open ended body, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the central portion of the body, an outlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the vertical flue to the rear end of the body, said outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and being shaped to diverge toward its open end to form a restricted portion in the body at its rear end, an inlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the front end of the body to and downwardly through the vertical flue, said inlet flue being open at the front of the body and arranged to extend upwardly and inwardly in the body before extending downwardly through the vertical flue, means at the open end of the inlet flue to allow passage of air into the flue and prevent passage of water, or the like, into the flue, control means in connection with the inlet flue, and means for rotatably mounting the cap over two vertically disposed ventilating flues arranged one within the other so that the vertical flue portion connects with the outer ventilating flue and so that the inlet flue connects with the inner ventilating flue.

8. A cap of the character described com prising, a horizontally disposed body having diverging open ends, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the central portion of the body, an outlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the vertical flue to the rear end of the body, said outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and being shaped to diverge toward its open end to form a restricted portion in the body at its rear end, and an inlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the front end of the body to and downwardly through the vertical flue, said inlet flue being open at the front of the body and arranged to extend upwardly and inwardly in the body before extending downwardly through the vertical flue.

9. A cap of the character described comprising a horizontally disposed open nded body, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the body, an outlet flue ar ranged in the body to extend from the vertical flue to the rear of the body, the outlet flue being open at the rear of the body and being shaped to diverge toward its open end to form a restricted portion in the body, and an inlet flue arranged to extend from the front of the body downwardly through the vertical flue.

10. In a cap of the character described, a horizontally disposed open ended body, a vertically disposed flue portion in connection with the body, an outlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the vertical flue to the rear of the body and being open at the rear of the body, and an inlet flue arranged in the body to extend from the front of the body to and downwardly through the vertical flue, said inlet flue being open at the front of the body and arranged to extend upwardly and inwardly from the front of the body before extending downwardly through the vertical flue.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of June, 1920.

JGHN K. PENNINGTON. Witness:

VIRGINIA I. Bnnrnenn. 

